Best first-year offensive playcaller: Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
I changed this category from coordinator to playcaller to recognize Kiffin, who has brought his offensive wizardry back to the SEC. While opinions vary on Kiffin as a head coach, his playcalling prowess and offensive structure is widely respected throughout the sport. Even though Ole Miss is 1-2, the Rebels have been strong offensively against three opponents with talented defenders, averaging 41.7 points and 7.4 yards per play. Ole Miss has also eclipsed 600 yards in two of its games, recorded multiple passing and rushing touchdowns in all three and committed only one turnover. If the Rebels played any defense, they might be 3-0.
Ole Miss piled up 48 points Saturday against Alabama, the most the Crimson Tide have allowed against an unranked team in AP Poll history, and tying for the most points Nick Saban's teams have surrendered at Alabama.
Although Miami's offense received a reality check Saturday at Clemson, first-year offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee also merits a mention here. He has capitalized on transfer quarterback D'Eriq King and has made Miami's offense fun to watch again. Miami has averaged 43.3 points and 499 yards through its first three games.
I put the full article in the Spoiler. Barry Odom gets a mention too. I'm afraid we are in for a dog fight on Saturday.
I changed this category from coordinator to playcaller to recognize Kiffin, who has brought his offensive wizardry back to the SEC. While opinions vary on Kiffin as a head coach, his playcalling prowess and offensive structure is widely respected throughout the sport. Even though Ole Miss is 1-2, the Rebels have been strong offensively against three opponents with talented defenders, averaging 41.7 points and 7.4 yards per play. Ole Miss has also eclipsed 600 yards in two of its games, recorded multiple passing and rushing touchdowns in all three and committed only one turnover. If the Rebels played any defense, they might be 3-0.
Ole Miss piled up 48 points Saturday against Alabama, the most the Crimson Tide have allowed against an unranked team in AP Poll history, and tying for the most points Nick Saban's teams have surrendered at Alabama.
Although Miami's offense received a reality check Saturday at Clemson, first-year offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee also merits a mention here. He has capitalized on transfer quarterback D'Eriq King and has made Miami's offense fun to watch again. Miami has averaged 43.3 points and 499 yards through its first three games.
I put the full article in the Spoiler. Barry Odom gets a mention too. I'm afraid we are in for a dog fight on Saturday.
College football coaches like to say they are evaluated on any given Saturday, and they are probably right. But, to be fair, it takes several weeks of conference games to provide a meaningful assessment of their performances.
We have reached the point, even in the most unusual of college football seasons, to start making some of those early declarations on the coaches who are delivering or falling short. Several first-year coaches already are making positive impacts, as are new playcallers on offense or defense. For those struggling, there is still time for a turnaround.
Here's a look at some coaching superlatives around the sport, particularly in the SEC, ACC and Big 12.
First-year coaching hire I was right about: Jeff Hafley, Boston College
After staffing stints in the NFL at Tampa Bay, Cleveland and San Francisco, Jeff Hafley was a secondary coach at Ohio State last season before being hired as head coach at Boston College ahead of the 2020 campaign. Paul Rutherford/USA TODAY Sports
The only reason I gave Hafley an A-minus and not an A in my coaching hire grades was because he spent only one year as a Power 5 coordinator before coming to BC. Still, he struck me as a defense version of Ryan Day: a Northeast guy with a nice mix of NFL and college experience, an advanced schematic palate and the ability to be authentic and charismatic.
Hafley was the clear No. 1 choice for Boston College, and he has delivered early. The Eagles improved to 3-1 after Saturday's overtime win against Pitt; their lone blemish is a four-point loss to then-No. 12 North Carolina. Quarterback Phil Jurkovec, whose career never got going at Notre Dame, has blossomed at BC, passing for 1,181 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. Jurkovec on Saturday became the first Boston College quarterback with three passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in the same game since Matt Ryan in 2007. Hafley also has upgraded Boston College's defense, which has improved from 101st in points allowed and 118th in sacks per pass attempt to 16th and 23rd, respectively, in those categories.
Boston College's coaching staff and players also deserve credit for their consistent track record of holding the coronavirus at bay. The team did not have a single positive test this past week and has just one positive result out of more than 4,500 tests since June.
First-year coaching hire I was wrong about: Sam Pittman, Arkansas
After jettisoning Chad Morris in November, Arkansas' wayward coaching search ended with a career offensive-line coach who wasn't in the running for any other jobs, much less one in the SEC. The Pittman hire seemed more sentimental than shrewd, especially for a team that had bottomed out under Morris by failing to win a single SEC game. But the man known for producing elite trenchmen and those mesmerizing "Yessir!" videos is showing he can do much more.
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"We've got a good football team," Pittman said after the Auburn loss. "The times of us going someplace and embarrassing our fans and our football team are over."
Best first-year offensive playcaller: Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
I changed this category from coordinator to playcaller to recognize Kiffin, who has brought his offensive wizardry back to the SEC. While opinions vary on Kiffin as a head coach, his playcalling prowess and offensive structure is widely respected throughout the sport. Even though Ole Miss is 1-2, the Rebels have been strong offensively against three opponents with talented defenders, averaging 41.7 points and 7.4 yards per play. Ole Miss has also eclipsed 600 yards in two of its games, recorded multiple passing and rushing touchdowns in all three and committed only one turnover. If the Rebels played any defense, they might be 3-0.
Ole Miss piled up 48 points Saturday against Alabama, the most the Crimson Tide have allowed against an unranked team in AP Poll history, and tying for the most points Nick Saban's teams have surrendered at Alabama.
Although Miami's offense received a reality check Saturday at Clemson, first-year offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee also merits a mention here. He has capitalized on transfer quarterback D'Eriq King and has made Miami's offense fun to watch again. Miami has averaged 43.3 points and 499 yards through its first three games.
Best first-year defensive playcaller: Barry Odom, Arkansas
When the revised SEC schedule came out, Arkansas projected as a 1-9 or 0-10 team. But the Razorbacks have held their own during a tough opening stretch of Georgia (home), Mississippi State (road) and Auburn (road). The biggest reason for the improvement is Odom, the former Missouri coach who has energized a downtrodden defense.
Arkansas opened the season by holding Georgia's offense to three first-half points, a field goal as the second quarter expired. Although Georgia eventually pulled away, the Razorbacks responded the following week by stifling K.J. Costello and a Mississippi State offense that had generated an SEC-record 623 passing yards and 44 points in a season-opening upset of LSU. Arkansas forced four turnovers, turned away 11 of 17 third-down attempts and allowed only 14 points, making four fourth-quarter stops. The Hogs allowed only three substantial scoring drives against Auburn.
"It definitely looks like they're playing a lot harder," an SEC offensive assistant said. "Barry's really good."
Odom's defense doesn't resemble the group that last season ranked 124th in points allowed, 115th in third-down conversions against and 116th in yards per play allowed.
"It's really been amazing, to be honest," another SEC assistant said. "They're not overly talented over there, but they've got a lot of guys that bought in."
Coach who has put himself on the hot seat: Tom Herman, Texas
Tom Herman is now on the hot seat after Texas has dropped two straight, including a 53-45 four-overtime loss to rival Oklahoma on Saturday in Dallas. Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire
Coaches who replace their coordinators after disappointing seasons are usually the next to feel the heat. Still, Herman's job seemed relatively safe entering the fall, especially with the financial realities of the pandemic and having signed a lucrative two-year contract extension through 2023 back in May 2019. Texas also appeared poised to break through, bolstered by several strong recruiting classes and do-it-all senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger.
Instead, the Longhorns sit at 2-2 after yet another loss against Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown, and they could easily be 1-3. Texas' overall stats aren't bad and it has shown some resiliency late in games, but the Longhorns simply make too many mistakes at key moments and rarely show the talent edge many expected by this point in Herman's tenure. Texas' issues on special teams have become so bad, former All-America punter Michael Dickson voiced his displeasure Saturday before deleting his tweet.
As my colleague David Hale noted, Herman is just 9-10 in his past 19-regular season games. Although Texas is feeling the financial crunch like every other school, it still wields more clout than most. One issue here could be a lack of obvious replacement candidates, especially if Urban Meyer isn't interested.
Most disappointing coordinator hire: Bo Pelini, LSU
Dave Aranda and Ed Orgeron could not be more different, from personalities to defensive schemes, but the pairing ultimately worked. Aranda's departure to Baylor after LSU's national championship run was sure to sting, perhaps more than many expected. But Orgeron seemingly landed a strong replacement in Pelini, who won a national title as LSU's defensive coordinator in 2007 and connected personally and stylistically with the current Tigers head coach. Orgeron gushed about Pelini during the preseason, saying, "We are so much better on defense right now than any part of the season last year. I feel Bo Pelini has come in and brought a new energy, a new excitement. Dave Aranda did a tremendous job for us, but I'm glad we've moved to the 4-3."
Three games into the season, LSU's defense has been a disaster. The Tigers allowed an SEC-record 623 passing yards to Mississippi State's K.J. Costello in the opener, inexplicably staying in man coverage against the Air Raid offense despite playing without All-America cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. The result: a 44-34 loss.
"They just never switched it up," an SEC offensive assistant said. "And it's never really been Pelini's deal. He's a zone guy. That was shocking."
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The situation worsened on Saturday for LSU against Missouri, which played with freshman quarterback Connor Bazelak and was without top wideout Damon Hazelton and two other receivers. Bazelak passed for 406 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions, and Missouri piled up 586 yards and 45 points on Pelini's defense. Orgeron called LSU's defensive performance "embarrassing," and while reiterating his support for Pelini -- "I love Bo, I think Bo's going to be a great defensive coordinator" -- he said LSU must reevaluate schematics and do "some soul-searching." Things only get tougher this week as LSU visits a Florida offense averaging 42.3 points per game.
Best early-season turnaround: Chris Klieman (Kansas State) and Matt Campbell (Iowa State)
The Big 12 is already hurting this season for two reasons: Oklahoma and Texas each have two losses, while Kansas State and Iowa State dropped season openers to Sun Belt teams. The issues at OU and Texas aren't going away, but Kansas State and Iowa State have turned things around and sit atop the league standings at 3-0.
Klieman has navigated COVID-19 issues on the roster, an injury to starting quarterback Skylar Thompson and other personnel challenges, while his team recorded a second consecutive win against Oklahoma after a historic rally Sept. 26. Kansas State proceeded to wisely award Klieman a contract extension through 2023. The four-time FCS national championship-winning coach has Kansas State positioned for long-term success, and potentially a Big 12 title run.
Campbell also deserves credit for getting his team on track after an opening loss against a talented Louisiana team. Iowa State underwhelmed in 2019, consistently finding ways to lose winnable games. But a come-from-behind win against Oklahoma (Iowa State's second victory over OU under Campbell) could really propel a team with one of the nation's better backfields in quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Breece Hall. Combined with a unique defense and tight end Charlie Kolar, Iowa State could be very tough to beat if its lineup stays healthy.
Worst early-season turnaround: Mike Leach, Mississippi State
After a big opening win with Mississippi State in his return to the SEC, Mike Leach's team is now 1-2. Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Leach's start shouldn't shock those who have followed his career. He's no stranger to signature wins, like beating LSU on the road in his season opener, but he's also prone to head-scratching losses. Mississippi State's sharp offensive decline stands out, from 632 yards and 44 points in Week 1 to 295 yards and two points Saturday at Kentucky. But coaches who have scouted the Bulldogs spot major issues with the offensive operation and quarterback play. "They might not win another game," one coach said. Mississippi State has scored 16 points (14 on offense) the past two weeks.
Leach hinted at personnel changes after the Kentucky loss, while also saying the coaching must improve. The Mississippi State-LSU opener is your typical early-season mirage game -- think Texas A&M-South Carolina from 2014, with Costello playing the Kenny Trill role -- but the problems in Starkville run deep.
Most disappointing encore: Scott Satterfield, Louisville
Satterfield was a deserving winner of ACC coach of the year after his debut at Louisville in 2019. He accomplished the difficult double duty of cleaning up a neglected team culture while still winning eight games and finishing second in the Atlantic Division. Another step forward seemed likely as Louisville returned quarterback Malik Cunningham, dynamic receivers Tutu Atwell and Dez Fitzpatrick, All-ACC running back Javian Hawkins and other playmakers. While the defense struggled in 2019, it returned enough experience to seemingly improve.
Instead, Louisville sits at 1-3 (0-3 in ACC play) after Friday's 19-point loss to Georgia Tech, a team picked to finish last in the league. The defense is breaking down at alarming rates, even against below-average offenses. More concerning is the offense has committed three turnovers in each of its three losses, as Louisville sits at minus-8 in turnover margin for the season. Penalties were a problem against Miami and Georgia Tech, and Louisville went 1-of-11 on third-down attempts in a three-point loss to Pitt.
Louisville was clearly ahead of schedule in 2019, and it showed, but it has now fallen behind in Satterfield's second season.
Best under-the-radar coordinator hire: Tim Beck, NC State
Beck's name usually sparks a reaction from several fan bases, especially Ohio State, which holds him responsible for the offense's backslide in 2015 and 2016 (the reality: Meyer had more to do with the convoluted quarterback situation and other problems than Beck). But the veteran playcaller, fired from Texas after last season, has redeemed himself. NC State, picked 11th in the ACC before the season, surprisingly sits at 3-1, thanks largely to improvements on offense.
The Wolf Pack outlasted Wake Forest 45-42 in their opener behind quarterback Bailey Hockman. Then they rallied against a very talented Pitt defense to win 30-29 on Oct. 3 behind another quarterback, Devin Leary, who threw for 336 yards and four touchdowns. Although Saturday's offensive performance at Virginia wasn't overwhelming, NC State ran the ball well (179 yards) and committed only one turnover.
NC State's hire of Beck didn't generate much attention at the time, but the veteran coordinator has helped stabilize a team that seemed to be trending downward.
Best Group of 5 coaching performance: Kalani Sitake, BYU
BYU entered the fall in an odd spot, coming off consecutive 7-6 seasons and with a schedule overhauled because of Power 5 cancellations. Rather than playing rival Utah, Michigan State, Arizona State, Minnesota and Missouri, BYU had to reshuffle the slate. But the Cougars have been dominant, thrashing Navy 55-3 in their opener and following with blowout wins against Troy and Louisiana Tech. BYU faced its first deficit Saturday, a 3-0 hole it quickly erased in a hard-fought 27-20 win over UTSA.
Junior quarterback Zach Wilson has been nearly flawless (81.2% completions for 1,241 passing yards with eight touchdowns and one interception), while BYU has also stifled opponents at the line of scrimmage, averaging 214.8 rush yards a game while collecting 13 sacks and 28 tackles for loss. Sitake, whose future seemed a bit murky before a contract extension in November, has BYU positioned for a special season.
Other Group of 5 coaches who deserve mention include Louisiana's Billy Napier, Marshall's Doc Holliday, SMU's Sonny Dykes and Coastal Carolina's Jamey Chadwell.
Group of 5 coordinator to watch: Cincinnati DC Marcus Freeman
Big Ten fans remember Freeman as a standout linebacker for Ohio State, where he twice earned all-conference honors. But the 34-year-old is a star on the rise in the coaching ranks, blossoming under head coach Luke Fickell at Cincinnati. The Bearcats, who led the American Athletic Conference in scoring defenses in each of the past two seasons, have allowed only 37 points in their first three games. They lead the nation in interceptions per pass attempt (6.9%), and rank fifth in adjusted QBR (24.2) and eighth in yards per play allowed (4.3).
Bigger tests loom against at No. 17 SMU (on Oct. 24), Memphis (Oct. 31) and Houston (Nov. 7), but Freeman's defense should give Cincinnati a chance every time it takes the field. Freeman will have opportunities to become a high-level Power 5 coordinator this offseason, although he's also extremely close with Fickell. If Fickell were to leave for a Power 5 job, Freeman would get consideration for the lead role at Cincinnati.
We have reached the point, even in the most unusual of college football seasons, to start making some of those early declarations on the coaches who are delivering or falling short. Several first-year coaches already are making positive impacts, as are new playcallers on offense or defense. For those struggling, there is still time for a turnaround.
Here's a look at some coaching superlatives around the sport, particularly in the SEC, ACC and Big 12.
First-year coaching hire I was right about: Jeff Hafley, Boston College
After staffing stints in the NFL at Tampa Bay, Cleveland and San Francisco, Jeff Hafley was a secondary coach at Ohio State last season before being hired as head coach at Boston College ahead of the 2020 campaign. Paul Rutherford/USA TODAY Sports
The only reason I gave Hafley an A-minus and not an A in my coaching hire grades was because he spent only one year as a Power 5 coordinator before coming to BC. Still, he struck me as a defense version of Ryan Day: a Northeast guy with a nice mix of NFL and college experience, an advanced schematic palate and the ability to be authentic and charismatic.
Hafley was the clear No. 1 choice for Boston College, and he has delivered early. The Eagles improved to 3-1 after Saturday's overtime win against Pitt; their lone blemish is a four-point loss to then-No. 12 North Carolina. Quarterback Phil Jurkovec, whose career never got going at Notre Dame, has blossomed at BC, passing for 1,181 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. Jurkovec on Saturday became the first Boston College quarterback with three passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in the same game since Matt Ryan in 2007. Hafley also has upgraded Boston College's defense, which has improved from 101st in points allowed and 118th in sacks per pass attempt to 16th and 23rd, respectively, in those categories.
Boston College's coaching staff and players also deserve credit for their consistent track record of holding the coronavirus at bay. The team did not have a single positive test this past week and has just one positive result out of more than 4,500 tests since June.
First-year coaching hire I was wrong about: Sam Pittman, Arkansas
After jettisoning Chad Morris in November, Arkansas' wayward coaching search ended with a career offensive-line coach who wasn't in the running for any other jobs, much less one in the SEC. The Pittman hire seemed more sentimental than shrewd, especially for a team that had bottomed out under Morris by failing to win a single SEC game. But the man known for producing elite trenchmen and those mesmerizing "Yessir!" videos is showing he can do much more.
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"We've got a good football team," Pittman said after the Auburn loss. "The times of us going someplace and embarrassing our fans and our football team are over."
Best first-year offensive playcaller: Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
I changed this category from coordinator to playcaller to recognize Kiffin, who has brought his offensive wizardry back to the SEC. While opinions vary on Kiffin as a head coach, his playcalling prowess and offensive structure is widely respected throughout the sport. Even though Ole Miss is 1-2, the Rebels have been strong offensively against three opponents with talented defenders, averaging 41.7 points and 7.4 yards per play. Ole Miss has also eclipsed 600 yards in two of its games, recorded multiple passing and rushing touchdowns in all three and committed only one turnover. If the Rebels played any defense, they might be 3-0.
Ole Miss piled up 48 points Saturday against Alabama, the most the Crimson Tide have allowed against an unranked team in AP Poll history, and tying for the most points Nick Saban's teams have surrendered at Alabama.
Although Miami's offense received a reality check Saturday at Clemson, first-year offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee also merits a mention here. He has capitalized on transfer quarterback D'Eriq King and has made Miami's offense fun to watch again. Miami has averaged 43.3 points and 499 yards through its first three games.
Best first-year defensive playcaller: Barry Odom, Arkansas
When the revised SEC schedule came out, Arkansas projected as a 1-9 or 0-10 team. But the Razorbacks have held their own during a tough opening stretch of Georgia (home), Mississippi State (road) and Auburn (road). The biggest reason for the improvement is Odom, the former Missouri coach who has energized a downtrodden defense.
Arkansas opened the season by holding Georgia's offense to three first-half points, a field goal as the second quarter expired. Although Georgia eventually pulled away, the Razorbacks responded the following week by stifling K.J. Costello and a Mississippi State offense that had generated an SEC-record 623 passing yards and 44 points in a season-opening upset of LSU. Arkansas forced four turnovers, turned away 11 of 17 third-down attempts and allowed only 14 points, making four fourth-quarter stops. The Hogs allowed only three substantial scoring drives against Auburn.
"It definitely looks like they're playing a lot harder," an SEC offensive assistant said. "Barry's really good."
Odom's defense doesn't resemble the group that last season ranked 124th in points allowed, 115th in third-down conversions against and 116th in yards per play allowed.
"It's really been amazing, to be honest," another SEC assistant said. "They're not overly talented over there, but they've got a lot of guys that bought in."
Coach who has put himself on the hot seat: Tom Herman, Texas
Tom Herman is now on the hot seat after Texas has dropped two straight, including a 53-45 four-overtime loss to rival Oklahoma on Saturday in Dallas. Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire
Coaches who replace their coordinators after disappointing seasons are usually the next to feel the heat. Still, Herman's job seemed relatively safe entering the fall, especially with the financial realities of the pandemic and having signed a lucrative two-year contract extension through 2023 back in May 2019. Texas also appeared poised to break through, bolstered by several strong recruiting classes and do-it-all senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger.
Instead, the Longhorns sit at 2-2 after yet another loss against Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown, and they could easily be 1-3. Texas' overall stats aren't bad and it has shown some resiliency late in games, but the Longhorns simply make too many mistakes at key moments and rarely show the talent edge many expected by this point in Herman's tenure. Texas' issues on special teams have become so bad, former All-America punter Michael Dickson voiced his displeasure Saturday before deleting his tweet.
As my colleague David Hale noted, Herman is just 9-10 in his past 19-regular season games. Although Texas is feeling the financial crunch like every other school, it still wields more clout than most. One issue here could be a lack of obvious replacement candidates, especially if Urban Meyer isn't interested.
Most disappointing coordinator hire: Bo Pelini, LSU
Dave Aranda and Ed Orgeron could not be more different, from personalities to defensive schemes, but the pairing ultimately worked. Aranda's departure to Baylor after LSU's national championship run was sure to sting, perhaps more than many expected. But Orgeron seemingly landed a strong replacement in Pelini, who won a national title as LSU's defensive coordinator in 2007 and connected personally and stylistically with the current Tigers head coach. Orgeron gushed about Pelini during the preseason, saying, "We are so much better on defense right now than any part of the season last year. I feel Bo Pelini has come in and brought a new energy, a new excitement. Dave Aranda did a tremendous job for us, but I'm glad we've moved to the 4-3."
Three games into the season, LSU's defense has been a disaster. The Tigers allowed an SEC-record 623 passing yards to Mississippi State's K.J. Costello in the opener, inexplicably staying in man coverage against the Air Raid offense despite playing without All-America cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. The result: a 44-34 loss.
"They just never switched it up," an SEC offensive assistant said. "And it's never really been Pelini's deal. He's a zone guy. That was shocking."
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The situation worsened on Saturday for LSU against Missouri, which played with freshman quarterback Connor Bazelak and was without top wideout Damon Hazelton and two other receivers. Bazelak passed for 406 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions, and Missouri piled up 586 yards and 45 points on Pelini's defense. Orgeron called LSU's defensive performance "embarrassing," and while reiterating his support for Pelini -- "I love Bo, I think Bo's going to be a great defensive coordinator" -- he said LSU must reevaluate schematics and do "some soul-searching." Things only get tougher this week as LSU visits a Florida offense averaging 42.3 points per game.
Best early-season turnaround: Chris Klieman (Kansas State) and Matt Campbell (Iowa State)
The Big 12 is already hurting this season for two reasons: Oklahoma and Texas each have two losses, while Kansas State and Iowa State dropped season openers to Sun Belt teams. The issues at OU and Texas aren't going away, but Kansas State and Iowa State have turned things around and sit atop the league standings at 3-0.
Klieman has navigated COVID-19 issues on the roster, an injury to starting quarterback Skylar Thompson and other personnel challenges, while his team recorded a second consecutive win against Oklahoma after a historic rally Sept. 26. Kansas State proceeded to wisely award Klieman a contract extension through 2023. The four-time FCS national championship-winning coach has Kansas State positioned for long-term success, and potentially a Big 12 title run.
Campbell also deserves credit for getting his team on track after an opening loss against a talented Louisiana team. Iowa State underwhelmed in 2019, consistently finding ways to lose winnable games. But a come-from-behind win against Oklahoma (Iowa State's second victory over OU under Campbell) could really propel a team with one of the nation's better backfields in quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Breece Hall. Combined with a unique defense and tight end Charlie Kolar, Iowa State could be very tough to beat if its lineup stays healthy.
Worst early-season turnaround: Mike Leach, Mississippi State
After a big opening win with Mississippi State in his return to the SEC, Mike Leach's team is now 1-2. Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Leach's start shouldn't shock those who have followed his career. He's no stranger to signature wins, like beating LSU on the road in his season opener, but he's also prone to head-scratching losses. Mississippi State's sharp offensive decline stands out, from 632 yards and 44 points in Week 1 to 295 yards and two points Saturday at Kentucky. But coaches who have scouted the Bulldogs spot major issues with the offensive operation and quarterback play. "They might not win another game," one coach said. Mississippi State has scored 16 points (14 on offense) the past two weeks.
Leach hinted at personnel changes after the Kentucky loss, while also saying the coaching must improve. The Mississippi State-LSU opener is your typical early-season mirage game -- think Texas A&M-South Carolina from 2014, with Costello playing the Kenny Trill role -- but the problems in Starkville run deep.
Most disappointing encore: Scott Satterfield, Louisville
Satterfield was a deserving winner of ACC coach of the year after his debut at Louisville in 2019. He accomplished the difficult double duty of cleaning up a neglected team culture while still winning eight games and finishing second in the Atlantic Division. Another step forward seemed likely as Louisville returned quarterback Malik Cunningham, dynamic receivers Tutu Atwell and Dez Fitzpatrick, All-ACC running back Javian Hawkins and other playmakers. While the defense struggled in 2019, it returned enough experience to seemingly improve.
Instead, Louisville sits at 1-3 (0-3 in ACC play) after Friday's 19-point loss to Georgia Tech, a team picked to finish last in the league. The defense is breaking down at alarming rates, even against below-average offenses. More concerning is the offense has committed three turnovers in each of its three losses, as Louisville sits at minus-8 in turnover margin for the season. Penalties were a problem against Miami and Georgia Tech, and Louisville went 1-of-11 on third-down attempts in a three-point loss to Pitt.
Louisville was clearly ahead of schedule in 2019, and it showed, but it has now fallen behind in Satterfield's second season.
Best under-the-radar coordinator hire: Tim Beck, NC State
Beck's name usually sparks a reaction from several fan bases, especially Ohio State, which holds him responsible for the offense's backslide in 2015 and 2016 (the reality: Meyer had more to do with the convoluted quarterback situation and other problems than Beck). But the veteran playcaller, fired from Texas after last season, has redeemed himself. NC State, picked 11th in the ACC before the season, surprisingly sits at 3-1, thanks largely to improvements on offense.
The Wolf Pack outlasted Wake Forest 45-42 in their opener behind quarterback Bailey Hockman. Then they rallied against a very talented Pitt defense to win 30-29 on Oct. 3 behind another quarterback, Devin Leary, who threw for 336 yards and four touchdowns. Although Saturday's offensive performance at Virginia wasn't overwhelming, NC State ran the ball well (179 yards) and committed only one turnover.
NC State's hire of Beck didn't generate much attention at the time, but the veteran coordinator has helped stabilize a team that seemed to be trending downward.
Best Group of 5 coaching performance: Kalani Sitake, BYU
BYU entered the fall in an odd spot, coming off consecutive 7-6 seasons and with a schedule overhauled because of Power 5 cancellations. Rather than playing rival Utah, Michigan State, Arizona State, Minnesota and Missouri, BYU had to reshuffle the slate. But the Cougars have been dominant, thrashing Navy 55-3 in their opener and following with blowout wins against Troy and Louisiana Tech. BYU faced its first deficit Saturday, a 3-0 hole it quickly erased in a hard-fought 27-20 win over UTSA.
Junior quarterback Zach Wilson has been nearly flawless (81.2% completions for 1,241 passing yards with eight touchdowns and one interception), while BYU has also stifled opponents at the line of scrimmage, averaging 214.8 rush yards a game while collecting 13 sacks and 28 tackles for loss. Sitake, whose future seemed a bit murky before a contract extension in November, has BYU positioned for a special season.
Other Group of 5 coaches who deserve mention include Louisiana's Billy Napier, Marshall's Doc Holliday, SMU's Sonny Dykes and Coastal Carolina's Jamey Chadwell.
Group of 5 coordinator to watch: Cincinnati DC Marcus Freeman
Big Ten fans remember Freeman as a standout linebacker for Ohio State, where he twice earned all-conference honors. But the 34-year-old is a star on the rise in the coaching ranks, blossoming under head coach Luke Fickell at Cincinnati. The Bearcats, who led the American Athletic Conference in scoring defenses in each of the past two seasons, have allowed only 37 points in their first three games. They lead the nation in interceptions per pass attempt (6.9%), and rank fifth in adjusted QBR (24.2) and eighth in yards per play allowed (4.3).
Bigger tests loom against at No. 17 SMU (on Oct. 24), Memphis (Oct. 31) and Houston (Nov. 7), but Freeman's defense should give Cincinnati a chance every time it takes the field. Freeman will have opportunities to become a high-level Power 5 coordinator this offseason, although he's also extremely close with Fickell. If Fickell were to leave for a Power 5 job, Freeman would get consideration for the lead role at Cincinnati.
